Switch



Jan. 30, 1962 H. STlTES SWITCH Filed NOV. 15, 1958 Fig. l

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

37 Loren H. Swiss 2 INVENTOR. 45 Q 28 BY a... 60 v L. H. STITES Jail.30, 1962 SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1958 Loren Ii StilesZNVENTOR.

L. H. STITES Jan. 30, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1958 Loren h.Sfltes INVENTOR Fig. /2

United States PatentQ 3,019,313 SWITCH Loren H. Stites, 3114 CorunnaRoad, Flint, Mich. Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,659 8 Claims. (Cl.200-87) This invention relates to switches, and more' particularly toimprovements in switches which may be used for general purposes or whichmaybe used'for special applications. I

An object of this invention is to provide improvements 3,019,313Patented Jan. 30,1962

"ice 7 by a non-conductive sleeve inside case 14in instances in switchesenabling the switches to'operate consider ably more satisfactorily overextended periods with no service, no maintenance and with greatdependability. The invention is embodied in numerous forms j of switcheswhich may be usedfor direct control of 'an electrical circuit or whichmay be used in combination with other switches constructed in accordancewith this invention or in accordance with conventional design.

One of the important features of this invention-is found in theresilient bumper which has a dual purpose. It functions as a spring andalso insulates two ormore electrically conductive parts, forlinstancethe switch contacts holding them "normally spaced but enabling them tobe moved together by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or. any othermeans. The rubber bumpers'are capableof compressing'so that thecon'tactsmay be brought together thereby closing the switch. i I vThesetog'ether'with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent'reside-in' the details of construction andoperation'as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: FIGURE 1 is a topview of one of the switches and a switch operator. V

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional-viewtaken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the switch in the closed position.i

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the rubber. bumper used in the switchof FIGURE 1.. In. .I'

FIGURE 6 is a"longitudina1 sectional view of 'a second switch.

FIGURE 7 is a. transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7of'FIGUR'E6." 3

FIGURE 8 is an enlargedsectional switch.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view takenon' of FIGURE 8. l FIGURE 10 is asectional view of a further switch; FIGURE 11 is a sectional view takenon the line 11- 11 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a top view of another switch; FIGURE 13 is afsectional view.taken' on the line 13-13 of FIGURE '12. 7

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14- 14 of FIGURE 13.

view of another the line 9+9 FIGURE 15 is a transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 1515 of FIGURE 13..

in the accompanying drawings there are a number of switches, each ofwhich is constructed to exemplify the principles of the invention.Reference is first madeto FIGURES 1-5 showing a structural support 10 on.which' lustrated head is in the shape of a truncatedcone so thatwherein the switch case is made of a conductive material; Contact ismade of a disk having a circular contact part 32 at its center. Contact28 is constructed in the same way buthas a switch operator 36 in theform of a spindle or shank, attached to it. The shank has an an nularlocking recess 38' intermediate its ends. The switch operating shank 38is made separate from contact 28 and is either of a non-conductivematerial or has a nonconductive layer between contact 28 and a lowerextrernity of the switch operator 36. a

In instances wherein the switch 12is to be operated by the movement of amechanical pait 40, e.g. on a machine, conveyor or any other piece ofequipment with.

which the switch is compatible, ahead 42 is fixed on the upper extremityof switch operating shank 36. The ilit acts as acam when'contacted bythe mechanical part 40. If the switch is'to be manually operated, head42' is not necessary. For electromagnetic operation, at least: the toppart of switch operator 36 is made of a conductor;

preferably soft-iron, and constitutes the armature of a solenoid in thatelectromagnetic toroidal coil 44 is posi tioned around the upper part ofthe switch operator36.

The electromagnetic coil may be instantaneously enerq gized causing theswitch operator 36 to descend with reference to the organization ofFIGURE 2, although the 4) holding the switch .operator in .a depressedposition;

' recess 38.

that two may be used should this be found desirable' it is automaticallyretained closed by the action of bolt switch 12 is mounted; Switch 12has a switch base 14.

and connect to the two contacts 28 and 30 of the switch;

switch may be located in any position, that is, horizontal; vertical, orat an angle, and still function with equal.

success.

Locking recess 38 has bolt 46 located at right angles to it. The bolt isconstrained in its travel by sleeve '48 attached to side wall 16 andopening into the cavity of switch case 14] The bolt is in the form of aplunger which bears against the lower enlarged part 37.0f1the switchoperator. 36 when the switch isin. the open posi When the operator shank36 is caused tomove tion. inwardly of the switch case 14 by any meanswhatsoe ever, spring 50 which isseated at one end on bolt 46 pushes thebolt inwardly of switch case 14 and engages the'inner end of the boltinlockingrecess 38 (FIGURE Inorder to constrain the movement of the switchoperator 36, a pin 52, for instance a cotter pin or any, other type ofpin, is passed through a pair of aligned openings 54 (FIGURE 3) in sidewall 16 and through Although one pin is illustrated, it is apparent ornecessary- Therefore, shank 36 cannot be separated from switch case 14,,however, theshank is free to move between the closed and open position,and when closed,

46 entering locking recess 38.

Bolt 46 may be retracted by any means to serve purpose. and they areelectromagnetic coil 56 carried by coil case 58 that is suitably securedto the switch cover 20.

A very important feature of this invention is composedof rubber bumper60.v Although the bumper is said to be rubber, it may be constructed ofany non-conductor having the same or similar properties of rubber. ;The

rubber bumper 60 serves as means for holding the contacts 28 and 30spaced from each other but enables the;

contacts to touch when switch operator 3-6 is moved to the switchclosing position inasmuch as the bumper 60 will yield. The bumper 60 isconstructed as a collar with a central opening 64 and inwardly curved orstraight side this One such means are shown in FIGURE 2 walls 66 (FIGUREboth inner and outer. Rubber bumper 68, in the form of a cylindrical,square or any other shape block is disposed on bottom wall 18 of case 14and has contact 30 seated thereon. Rubber bumper 68 (see FIGURE 4) iscompressed when the switch achieves the switch closed position.

Switch 12 may be used as shown in FIGURE 2. Further, only a part of theassembly may be used to actuate another switch that iselectromagnetically actuated. In such a case only parts 14, 16, 20, 22,24, 26, 28, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42, 52, 60 and 68 will be required.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 and 7. In this form of the inventionthe switch 71 is made of a switch case 70 composed of a tube with aswitch operating shank 72 mounted therein. A hook 74 is illustrated atone end of shank 72 to show that the switch may be operated whensomething catches onto the hook and moves the switch operating shank inone direction. Pipe 76 is shown welded to case 70, the pipe 76diagrammatically representing any suitable mechanical support for theswitch.

Switch 71 is a normally open switch, held in the open position by thepull of gravity. Therefore, the switch should be mounted vertical orapproximately vertical. The fixed contact 78 of the switch is made of asmall collar having an inwardly directed flange 80 inset in a circularcollar 82 of electrically insulating material. The collar 82 is U-shapedin cross-section having flange 80 gripped between the sides thereof.Washer 84 is disposed in a recess 86 in the side of the switch, as issleeve 82 which is gripped tightly by fitting against the side walls ofthe recess. Conductor 88 is attached, as in all forms of the invention,by any suitable means, for instance by a binding screw, by beingsoldered, or by solderless connectors and connections.

The movable contact 90 is attached to an insulating sleeve 92 that seatson washer 94. The insulating sleeve 92 is U-shaped in cross-section andgrips the inwardly directed flange 96 of the contact 90. There is a head98 on the lower extremity of shank 72 against which the washer 94 bears.The washer and sleeve 92 are set in a circumferential recess 100 in thelower end of shank 72.

It is evident now that when shank 72 is lifted the contacts 78 and 90will be brought together into the closed position. The lifting of shank72 may be achieved by a part engaging hook 74 or any other element formoving the shank. Alternatively, an electromagnetic coil may be placedat the hook 74 end of shank 72 to operate the switch.

Attention is now invited to FIGURES 8 and 9. Switch 110 is illustrativein these figures. The switch has an operating shank 112 with a reducedpart 114 and an enlarged part 116 separated by shoulder 118. The reducedpart 114 of shank 112 is passed through an opening 120 in a structuralsupport 122 for the switch.

Switch 110 has two contacts 124 and 126, each being identical andcomposed of a collar having an inwardly directed fiange. The flange 128of contact 124 has a conductor 130 attached to it, while flange 132 ofcontact 126 has a conductor 134 attached to it. Both conductors arepassed through openings in an insulating panel 136 which, as in theembodiment of FIGURE 1, may be attached to any suitable structuralsupport or may remain free floating and thereby serving a spacingfunction for the conductors 130 and 134.

Contact 124 is set in a circular insulating sleeve 138 which is U-shapedin cross section thereby forming a pocket within which the contact 124is embraced. Identical sleeve 140 holds contact 126, and the sleeves andcon tacts are each provided with central openings enabling the switchoperating shank 112 to pass therethrough. The switch 110 is a normallyopen switch, held open by rubber bumper 144. The rubber bumper is in theform of a sleeve with concavo-convex or straight walls whatever is bestsuitable to manufacture walls whose edges are located in the confrontingrecesses 146 and 148 formed between part of sleeves 138, 148 andcontacts 124, 126. The bumper holds the contacts spaced apart but iscapable of yielding so that the adjacent surfaces of the contacts maytouch when the switch is moved to the closed position. Rubber bumper 150has a central opening through which shank 112 passes and it is locatedon shoulder 118. The sleeve 140 seats on bumper 158. Both of the bumpersyield when the switch operating shank 112 is moved to the switch closingposition. The movement of shank 112 may be achieved eitherhydraulically, mechanically or electrically.

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Inthese figures there is a switch which has a pair of contacts 162 and164. This, is perhaps, the simplest form of switch using rubber bumper166 which is identical to rubber bumper 60 (FIGURE 5). Contact 162 iscomposed of a disk 1 68 having a smaller diameter disk 170 integraltherewith. The other contact 164 has a disk 172 with a smaller diameterdisk 176 integral. Two smaller disks 170 and 176 are adapted to bebrought together to the switch closing position with rubber bumper 166yielding in compression to enable the surface of the contacts to touch.The inherent elasticity of the bumper 166 will return the contacts tothe switch open position. I

Sleeves 180 and 182, preferably made of a non-conductor, have end wallsto form a pair of cups within which the contacts 162 and 164aresupported. There are openings in the side walls of the sleeves to enableconductors 184 and 186 toenter openings in the contacts and be solderedas at 188 or otherwise fastened in place. The conductors are passedthrough spaced openings in insulating panel 190, this being identical tothe previously men tioned panels that are associated with the otherconductors of the other switch.

FIGURES 12-15 show a more complicated switch arrangement. However, theswitch 200 in FIGURES 12-15 is very much like switch 12 in a number ofrespects. As shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 the switch 200 is mounted on astructural support 202 and has a pair of identical switch cases 204 and206 within which switch operating shanks 208 and 210 are mounted forreciprocation. In instances wherein the switch is to be operated by themovement of a mechanical part 210, the head 212, identical to head 42,is attached to the upper extremity of shank 210. Here again the switchmay be electromagnetically operated by using a toroidal coil 214 placedaround the shank 210 whereby the shank 210 will be drawn to the downposition. Furthermore, switch 200' may be manually operated.

Each shank has a pin secured to it and protruding laterally therefrom.The shank 210 has pin 218 and the shank 208 has pin 220, the pinsextending through slots 222 and 224 in cases206and 204.

Switch case 230 is attached to switch cover 232, for instance by one ormore screws or bolts 234. The switch case has two'switch sections 236and 238, each of which is identical. Shanks 240 and 242 are mounted forsliding movement in the switch case 230 and have cam surfaces 244 and246 that are engaged by pins 218 and 220, each of these having a camsurface. Shank 240 engages a surface of contact 250 while shank 242engages a surface of contact 252. Contacts 254 cooperates with contact250 and contacts 256 cooperates with contact 252 to obtain the switchingfunction. Rubber bumpers 260 and 262 respectively are located betweenthe pairs of contacts and the rubber bumpers are identical to the rubberbumper that has been described in detail elsewhere. Rubber bumpers 266and 268 contact the dividing wall 270 in case 230 and the innermostcontacts254 and 256 respectively of the two switch sections.

Conductors 272, 274, 276 and 278 respectively are passed throughopenings in panels 280 and 282 and are attached to the individualcontacts 250, 254, 256 and 252. In order to enter the switch case 230there are slots 284 and 286 in the switch case side wall. A three-wayswitch may be made of this embodiment of the invention by tying togetherconductors 274 and 276 and using the conductors 272 and 278 as thesecond and third conductors in the two-way switch, arrangement. v

A rocker arm 288 is mounted for pivotal movement on pin 290 suspendedfrom beneath case 230 on bracket 292. .The ends of therocker have slots294 through which pins 296 and 298 are passed, these pins being carriedby the bifurcated lower ends of shanks 210 and 208. It is evident frominspection of FIGURE 13 that when shank 210 is raised, shank 208 willautomatically lift and vice versa. This alternately opens and closes theswitch sections 236 and 238 with the rubber bumpers functioning in amanner described previously in connection with the other rubber bumperin the other embodiments of the invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed,

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A switch comprising a switch case, a shank movable in said switchcase, a first contact having a reduced terminal portion disposed in saidswitch case, a second contact having a reduced terminal portion disposedin said switch case, an annular resilient insulating bumper defining acentral opening located between and in engagement with said contacts andholding said contacts spaced apart, said reduced terminal portionsextending toward each other in said central opening said bumper beingcompressible so that said contacts may be brought together and touch insaid central opening, a second rubber bumper located in said switch caseand having said second contact'seated thereon, said second bumper alsocompressible when said contacts are moved to a switch closed position,said shank being movable to the switch closed position so as to engageone of the contacts and force it into engagement with the other contact.

2. A switch comprising a switch case, a shank movable in said switchcase and having a locking recess, a first contact having a reducedterminal portion disposed in said switch case, a second contact having areduced tenninal portion disposed in said switch case, an annularresilient insulating bumper defining a central opening located betweenand in engagement with said contacts and holding said contacts spacedapart, said reduced terminal portions extending toward each other insaid central opening said bumper being compressible so that saidcontacts may be brought together and touch in said central opening, asecond rubber bumper located in said switch case and having said secondcontact seated thereon, said second bumper also compressible when saidcontacts are moved to a switch closed position, said shank being movableto the switch closed position so as to engage one of the contacts andforce it into engagement with the other contact, a locking bolt carriedby said switch case and adapted to enter said locking recess when saidshank is moved to the switch closed position, means for Withdrawing saidlocking bolt from said locking recess.

3. A switch comprising a switch case, a shank movable in said switchcase and having :a locking recess, a first contact having a reducedterminal portion disposed in said switch case, a second contact having areduced terminal portion disposed in said switch case, an annularresilient insulating bumper defining a central opening located betweenand in engagement with said contacts and holding said contacts spacedapart, said reduced terminal portions extending toward each other insaid central opening said bumper being compressible so that saidcontacts may be brought together and touch in said central opening, asecond rubber bumper located in said switch case and having said secondcontact seated thereon, said second bumper also compressible when saidcontacts are moved to a switch closed position, and means connected withsaid shank for moving said shank in a direction to bring said contactstogether.

4. A switch comprising a switch case, a shank movable in said switchcase and having a locking recess, a first contact having a reducedterminal portion disposed in said switch case, a second contact having areduced terminal portion disposed in said switch case, an annularresilient insulating bumper defining a central opening located betweenand in engagement with said contacts and holding said contacts spacedapart, said reduced terminal portions extending toward each other insaid central opening said bumper being compressible so that saidcontacts may be brought together and touch in said central opening, asecond rubber bumper located in said switch case and having said secondcontact seated thereon, said second bumper also compressible when saidcontacts are moved to a switch closed position, said shank being movableto the switch closed position so as to engage one of the contacts andforce it into engagement with the other contact, a locking bolt carriedby said switch 5. A switch comprising a switch casing, a shank movablein said switch casing, a first contact having a reduced terminal portiondisposed in said switch case, a second contact having a reduced terminalportion disposed in said switch case, an annular resilient insulatingbumper defining a central opening located between and in engagement withsaid contacts and holding said contacts spaced apart, said reducedterminal portion extending toward each other in said central opening,said bumper being compressible so that said contacts may be broughttogether and touch in said central opening, and said shank beingoperatively engaged with at least one of said contacts so that when itmoves in said casing it causes said contacts to touch.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said shank and said contactsare in alignment with one another, and said shank and said one contactnormally moving together and in the same direction.

7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said shank moves in adirection transverse to the direction of movement of said one contact,and said shank includes a cam means operatively engaged with acooperating surface on said one contact for moving same,

8. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said casing includes a thirdcontact and a fourth contact, a second annular resilient bumper defininga central opening located between and in engagement with said third andfourth contacts, said third and fourth contacts having reduced portionsextending toward each other in said central opening, a second shankgenerally parallel to and spaced from said firstmentioned shank, saidsecond shank being operatively engaged with one of said third and fourthcontacts for forcing them together, and means operatively connectingsaid shanks whereby the movement of one will cause the other to move ina reverse direction for alternately closing said first and secondcontacts and said third and fourth contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS851,811 Knight Apr. 30, 1907 1,838,664 Dubilier Dec. 29, 1931 (Otherreferences on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS Armstrong June 10,1941 Gaynor Dec. 28, 1943 Schwinn Jan. 16, 1945 Heller Dec. 5, 1950Bakke -2- Nov. 9, 1954 Sogge -1 Jan. 11, 1955 Sprow Feb. -5, 1957Schulenburg Feb. 11, 1958 Marasco et a1 Feb. 18, 1958 Leonard Oct.21,1958 Oshry 1. Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 15,1955

